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I knew I
wanted to be a screenwriter.......
when I tried to
find a short screenplay to direct and produce and found nothing I
liked. It was time to start writing. My short film LEO AND MARS
emerged from this effort.
I know I've
succeeded.......
because I am pleased with the films I've
written, directed and produced so far and they have met with some
modest success. Not enough as I'm not making a feature but some.
My inspiration
to write
SNAKE.......
was threefold.
- My need to have
a third film to fill out the trilogy of short films I envision
called, THEY DID IT FOR LOVE. LEO AND MARS and CALL CRYSTAL are
finished.
- Some people I
once knew and observed from a safe distance who roughly lived this
situation.
- I love the Blue
Angel and wanted to make an updated version of it.
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FilmMakers
Magazine:
What inspired you to write?
Perry T.
Schwartz: After I decided I needed to in order to direct and produce an original
screenplay, I looked for a metaphor to talk about my experience in
relationships. A song by John Hiatt got me started and LEO AND MARS
just evolved from that beginning. I write so I can direct. I also
direct adaptations that I do of plays. Currently I am working on a
short story adaptation as a feature film.
FilmMakers Magazine: How did you prepare yourself to
write your first script?
Perry T. Schwartz: I first had to find the metaphor to write around. Once I had that, I
just wrote dialogue and scene ideas as they came to me over about a
six week period. Then in two weeks the script came together. It did,
however, take a completely different direction than I had intended. It
more or less wrote itself into the world of the future that became the
world of LEO AND MARS.
FilmMakers
Magazine:
Is this your first script and how long did it take you to write SNAKE?
Perry T. Schwartz:
No, this is not my first script. This script has been in development for
several years.
FilmMakers
Magazine:
Do you have a set routine, place and time management for writing?
Perry T. Schwartz: No I do not unless I know I have a deadline to meet.
This is, of course, a bad idea as a writer because you don't get much
done without setting aside specific time for writing.
FilmMakers Magazine: Do you believe screenplay contests
are important for aspiring screenwriters and why?
Perry T. Schwartz:
Yes, I do. Just getting as far as I have in this contest, encourages me
to get to work on the feature I want to finish. I simply need to make
time for it and establish a writing schedule. This is not easy when
one wears so many different hats and real life intrudes on writing
life.
FilmMakers Magazine: What influenced you to enter the
American Gem Short Script Competition?
Perry T. Schwartz:
Saw it on Withoutabox and decided it would be worth entering. And
it was.
FilmMakers
Magazine:
What script would you urge aspiring writers to read and why?
Perry T. Schwartz:
I don't read
many scripts. I think seeing the film is far more important than
reading the script.
FilmMakers
Magazine:
Beside screenwriting what are you passionate about and why?
Perry T. Schwartz:
I am passionate about film production and directing. The whole process
of developing the script for shooting, shooting and editing I find
enormously exciting and satisfying. I also love my wife and my
Airedale Terrier.
FilmMakers
Magazine:
Who is your favorite Screenwriter and Why?
Perry T. Schwartz:
At the moment, Paul Haggis. I think he accomplishes with great ease
the dual purpose of art, to arouse emotions and stimulate thought. The
best screenwriters do that. Although I must say, I admire writers who
can just write really could comedy. Laughter is so important.
FilmMakers
Magazine:
Name the director you would love to work with and why?
Perry T. Schwartz:
I admire many directors. Do I want to work with them, no. I am a
director and have been one in both theatre and film for a very long
time. I learn from the great one's as I see their work. I don't need
to work with them. Of course, I would be happy to have one of the
great directors, produce with me and fund a project of mine.
FilmMakers
Magazine:
Name the actor you would love to work with and why?
Perry T.
Schwartz: There are so many really good actors today to name a specific one would
be very difficult. I would like to work with an actor who loved the
role I offered them and could be totally convincing as the character.
Sure a name actor would be terrific because that might work toward a
project being financially successful.
FilmMakers
Magazine:
Any tips and things learned along the way to pass on to others?
Perry T. Schwartz:
You must have a good script that has characters that people can
believe in. That doesn't mean they have to like the characters but
they must believe them in whatever the world is that is created by the
film. In addition to a good script, production values must be up to
the high professional level today's audiences have come to expect.
FilmMakers
Magazine:
What's next for you?
Perry T.
Schwartz: Get SNAKE produced. Finish my feature script and get it produced.
FilmMakers Magazine: Where will you be five years from
now?
Perry T.
Schwartz: Retired, not teaching and not running a performing arts center.
Hopefully I will be making a feature film somewhere, somehow. You
always have to keep working on the dream. |
